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mmattyphoto
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We can add E79 to the list. They had one there for many years. I remember because as an explorer scout at E88 we got to use it for drills. But I don't remember the rig#.
My younger Buff years
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Gentlemen no offense. I don't know much about the auxiliaries, which is where my post comes from. I know my house had a few auxiliaries and there was CD rigs scattered around. But that's all I know. I don't know how they were organized or if there was any form of rank structure. I wasn't born until 78 so most of this is before my time.
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Thanks for the input, that list was dated Oct. 1954 and it looks like the 1954 WLF C.D.'s 53 thru 75 had not yet been assigned to firehouses.3511 said:
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mmattyphoto
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tl-ff, there were ranks in the auxiliaries, like johnd248 was a Lt. I don't remember if it went above the rank of Capt. It was along time ago for me. so any help out there?
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johnd248, yes you are correct, the highest rank in the Auxiliary Fire Corp which was officially know as Fire Emergency Division (FED) was indeed the rank of Captain. When I joined the FED program in 1972 as a Aux. FF., we had 8 Aux's assigned to E 319. At that time only one of those was a active member and he was a Lt.. The commanding officer of the house was the only person permitted to request a promotion for Aux. members. In my case I was promoted to Aux Lt. in 1973 and the to Aux. Capt in 1974. There was a Aux. Capt designated for each boro to make sure all paperwork was in order for all Aux's assigned to that boro. There were monthly meetings that
all Aux's were required to attend and were held at either E 309 in Brooklyn by Aux. Capt. Tony Ramondi ( E 245 ) or at E 319 in Queens,
by me Aux. Capt. Doug Marra ( E 319 ). Also held were drills at Welfare Island now know as Roosevelt Island, which was the FDNY training center. From all the paperwork I had seen the FED was very active at one time. Mostly all of the Aux's were assigned to Engine Co's but there were a few Aux's assigned to a Truck Co's. As far as the CD's ( Civil Defense Rigs ) at E 319 we had CD 22 stored in our quarters. When the rig went out of quarters for a CD drill, it was manned by a FDNY Officer, a FDNY Chauffer and 4 Aux. members.
The CD pumpers were a big help in the Red Hook area of brooklyn on election night every year. On that night there were large Barn Fires
Set which was for some reason a tradition. Approx 5 CD pumpers were manned by the Aux's and were assigned to the quarters of either
E 203 or E 204 and responded to barn fires only. But all things come to a end and so did the FED Auxiliary Fire Corps. ( R I P )
all Aux's were required to attend and were held at either E 309 in Brooklyn by Aux. Capt. Tony Ramondi ( E 245 ) or at E 319 in Queens,
by me Aux. Capt. Doug Marra ( E 319 ). Also held were drills at Welfare Island now know as Roosevelt Island, which was the FDNY training center. From all the paperwork I had seen the FED was very active at one time. Mostly all of the Aux's were assigned to Engine Co's but there were a few Aux's assigned to a Truck Co's. As far as the CD's ( Civil Defense Rigs ) at E 319 we had CD 22 stored in our quarters. When the rig went out of quarters for a CD drill, it was manned by a FDNY Officer, a FDNY Chauffer and 4 Aux. members.
The CD pumpers were a big help in the Red Hook area of brooklyn on election night every year. On that night there were large Barn Fires
Set which was for some reason a tradition. Approx 5 CD pumpers were manned by the Aux's and were assigned to the quarters of either
E 203 or E 204 and responded to barn fires only. But all things come to a end and so did the FED Auxiliary Fire Corps. ( R I P )
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I started riding with E-280 in September 1968, crossed the floor to L-132 in January of 1969 and stopped riding in 1975 when I moved from the City. I was promoted to Aux Lt in 1970 and Aux Capt in 1971.
132 was a good house. The men were very receptive to an Auxiliary. I had been preceded there by a gentleman named Jerry Grady. He was a real good guy, had the repsect of all the men and was a tough act to follow.
It's a shame the Auxiliaries have ended. I can understand why, but it's still sad. There were many good people associated with the program, both on the Auxiliary side and the uniformed FDNY side.
132 was a good house. The men were very receptive to an Auxiliary. I had been preceded there by a gentleman named Jerry Grady. He was a real good guy, had the repsect of all the men and was a tough act to follow.
It's a shame the Auxiliaries have ended. I can understand why, but it's still sad. There were many good people associated with the program, both on the Auxiliary side and the uniformed FDNY side.
When I rode with Engine 248, there was an auxiliary at Ladder 157 named Richie Sheirer. Really good guy and good friend; he became a dispatcher and ultimately was the head of OEM for the entire city. I can still picture him riding the side running boards of Ladder 157's American LaFrance tiller truck.
Found an interesting article in Autum 1962 WNYF - "Fire Auxiliary Corps".
Commissioner Thompson announced the intention to grow the auxiliary fire fighting force. On October 12, 1962, the Commissioner "...called on all retired members of the Department, and all other able-bodied citizens to register at their nearest firehouse for voluntary duty with the Fire Auxiliary Corps (Civil Defense)."
The Cold War concerns of the 1960s gave rise to a very active auxiliary program as the "War Years" started in the city. October 1962 happened to be when the Cuban Missile Crisis was taking place. The FDNY Auxiliary Corps was in already place through World War II, to provide FDNY manpower assistance during the war (along with the many squads in different divisions). FDNY was stripped of many firefighters who were serving in the military during WWII. The Cold War concerns of the 1960s gave rise to a very active auxiliary program as the "War Years" started in the city.
The number of "registered and trained" auxiliaries was reported to be about 1000 in WNYF in 1962. The Commissioner wanted to raise the total to "50,000" to "insure sufficient trained personnel in event their services should be required."
The article continued: "Training sessions will be conducted at local fire houses, and, if enrollment is heavy enough, additional training facilities and instruction will be provided during evening and weekend hours at the new Training Center on Welfare Island.
In addition to volunteers, the Commissioner requested cooperation of local business firms in making available any trucks that could be used in the program...These trucks would be manned by competent members of the Department, with fire equipment to be used for auxiliary purposes.
Commissioner Thompson also called on other City Commissioners and Department Heads, whose male employees had not previously been assigned to any specific duties inb the Civil Defense set-up, to dispatch such people to local fire houses for needed training.
If the demand arises, this Department stands ready to expand its operation and keep all its personnel on Emergency Re-call status.
Only by the wholehearted and complete cooperation of all our citizens can we show the World and the Nation that we are willing to do our utmost to save our City in the event of an attack."
Does anyone remember all the open cab Ward LaFrance pumpers from the 1950s that were still used all over the city as the early War Years developed? They had circular red-white-blue "CD" emblems.
Commissioner Thompson announced the intention to grow the auxiliary fire fighting force. On October 12, 1962, the Commissioner "...called on all retired members of the Department, and all other able-bodied citizens to register at their nearest firehouse for voluntary duty with the Fire Auxiliary Corps (Civil Defense)."
The Cold War concerns of the 1960s gave rise to a very active auxiliary program as the "War Years" started in the city. October 1962 happened to be when the Cuban Missile Crisis was taking place. The FDNY Auxiliary Corps was in already place through World War II, to provide FDNY manpower assistance during the war (along with the many squads in different divisions). FDNY was stripped of many firefighters who were serving in the military during WWII. The Cold War concerns of the 1960s gave rise to a very active auxiliary program as the "War Years" started in the city.
The number of "registered and trained" auxiliaries was reported to be about 1000 in WNYF in 1962. The Commissioner wanted to raise the total to "50,000" to "insure sufficient trained personnel in event their services should be required."
The article continued: "Training sessions will be conducted at local fire houses, and, if enrollment is heavy enough, additional training facilities and instruction will be provided during evening and weekend hours at the new Training Center on Welfare Island.
In addition to volunteers, the Commissioner requested cooperation of local business firms in making available any trucks that could be used in the program...These trucks would be manned by competent members of the Department, with fire equipment to be used for auxiliary purposes.
Commissioner Thompson also called on other City Commissioners and Department Heads, whose male employees had not previously been assigned to any specific duties inb the Civil Defense set-up, to dispatch such people to local fire houses for needed training.
If the demand arises, this Department stands ready to expand its operation and keep all its personnel on Emergency Re-call status.
Only by the wholehearted and complete cooperation of all our citizens can we show the World and the Nation that we are willing to do our utmost to save our City in the event of an attack."
Does anyone remember all the open cab Ward LaFrance pumpers from the 1950s that were still used all over the city as the early War Years developed? They had circular red-white-blue "CD" emblems.
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Many of those Ward LaFrance C.D. pumpers were later used as hosewagons and spares. I remember E83 used a C.D. pumper as their wagon rather than their 1947 (ex-E220) ALF, E37 used C.D.41 as their hosewagon. Also C.D.'s 2, 3, 7, 10, 47 & 49 were often seen used as spares in Bronx. How many of you remember the "pump-and-roll" capability of those Ward LaFrances which was something that was really appreciated during brush fire seasons.
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G-Man, Sorry for the grammer.......It was one of those moments trying to type and my grand daughter crawling on the bed.....
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Mack, As you stated the CD pumpers were very not well protected for the members that were riding. It got very cold in the open cab and more so the open back step. The CD pumper was somewhat identical to our assigned rig. Both rigs have 1/2 length doors with a piece of glass that was slanted, which made the cab somewhat more less windy but again it was cold. The open cab 51 Ward Lafrance rig that was assigned to the co. was modified by the members. A few large pieces of metal as a frame and a old heavy piece of a canvas made a great cab cover. The rear step was framed out of wood for protection. At the start of the war years, we were relocated very often to the south bronx co's.. The problem that ended up starting was that when our assigned rig went OOS we would use the CD rig as a spare which had no protection for the members, so the dispatchers never relocated us . In 1968 when our 1951 was replaced,
we recieved a hand me down 1962 International Harverst from E 290 which was an enclosed cab and a bench that ran behind the officer and chauffer. It was somewhat protected with a short hangover, but it was still not totally enclosed.
we recieved a hand me down 1962 International Harverst from E 290 which was an enclosed cab and a bench that ran behind the officer and chauffer. It was somewhat protected with a short hangover, but it was still not totally enclosed.
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Guess its just one of those days...........Meant to tell johnd248 I had the bad grammer or is it graammeerr.........
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3511 said:
Much like this:
